Aisship



0.1. LAISY.

vAIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED III/w25, Isle.

latentod July 29, 1919.

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AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FiLED MAY 25. 1916.

1,3 l 1,237. Patented July 29, 1919.

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O. J. LAISY.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY25. 1916.

1,311,237'. l PmnmdJuIy 29,1919.

Flaw? o. I. LAI'SY.'

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. Ime.

Patented July 29, 1919.

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escala g. Larsinlor CLEVELAND, onto.

earnest.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1919.

Application led May 25, 1916. Serial 1\T o. 99,720.

wherein there is a gas bag provided with a frameon the interior for maintaining the shape of the bag, and the general object of the invention is to provide a simple eiiicient construction of th1s interior frame so arranged that the bag may be folded close along the longitudinal shaft by the collapsing of theframe. |This collapsing permits a convenient `packing for shipment and provides for easily erecting the balloon for' inflation, as is fully set forth in my prior application No. 721,584,5led September 2l,

Further objects of the invention are to combine with suchen airship of the dirigible. type, one or more cars suspended beneath the same for carrying the driving mechanism, passengers etc., which may be conveniently attached to the balloon and beconstructed somewhat after the manner of an aeroplane so 'that the car may be detached from the balloon and carry with it its driving and pro-4 pelling mechanism, allowing flight to be con'- tinued free fromthe supporting bag. Still another object is to, so arrange the car or cars, supportedby the gas bag, that they may alight on waterand be propelled along the surface of the same by the same prop'elling means used to cause the airship to move through the air, when the cars areI at?. tached to the bag.

Y The above and other obj ects will become apparent in the following description which relates to the drawings, and the essential characteristics' are hereinafter summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevathe gas bag; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the entire airship showing one of the cars in rear elevation; Fig. i is a sectional detail of the means for securin the spokes of the frame to the gas bag, and the manner of attaching the brace wires; Fig. 5 is a similar sectional detail taken at right angles to Fig. 4c; Fig. 6 is a detail showing a plan of the members at the outer side of the gas bag at the ends of the spokes illustrating the manner of attaching thebracing wires' thereto; Fig. 7 1s a longitudinal sectional detail, a portion of the frame holding the gas bag distended, illustrating bracing means and the manner of dividing the balloon into compartments;l Fig. 8 is a detail, being a transverse section showing the parts of the frame adjacent the shaft; Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional detail showing the means for securing the balloon at one end of the shaft; Fig. 10 is a plan showing two cars adapted to. be supported by the gas bag and provided with supporting wings of the aeroplane type; F ig. 1l is a sectional detail oi' a modified construction of the securing means at the end of the spolre.

Referring to the drawings, my balloon is built with a central longitudinal latticework shaft 1, whichis shown as formed of four longitudinal corner strips 2 of suitable light material,at right `angles to which are cross braces 3 forming a box truss. This truss is braced and Stilfened by diagonal wires 4f, tightly drawn between the. jointsof the longitudinal members and the cross braces. These wires preferably extend over metal Saddle members 5 V-shaped in cross section and embracing the outer corners oi the strips 2 preventing the wire cutting' into the wood or softer material of the strips, and the wires are preferably secured by staples indicated at 7, one leg of which may extend through the strips 2 and into the cross braces 3. By this construction l provide a very light but strong and rigid shaft upon vwhich to construct an airship of this character.

Carried on this shaft is a series of transverse rings indicatedat 6, which in turn, carry members for pivotally securing the inner ends of the spokes 8 projecting radially from the shaft to the canvas 1() of the bal` loon. lnside one or more of these rings 6 l may provide a plate forming a diaphragm indicated at 12, clamped between ends of the sections into which the shaft is preferably divided, the securing being effected by bolts indicated at 13, extending through the intermediate ring 6, andengaging rings 14 and 15 at either side thereof, which are in turn secured to the ends of the embraced section of the shaft by staples 16, (Figs. 7 and 8). Thus' when these bolts are in position they may serve to tightly draw the sections of the shaft together onto the diaphragm, in-y side the intermediate ring 6, providingl a shaft rigid from end to end of the balloon and divided by diaphragme preventing leakage from one compartment of the balloon into the other, as will be presently described.

The compartments 'are formed by transverse partition members'made of canvas 17 and suitably braced by a webof Wires .ShOWH at 21, and secured adjacent the shaft in a roove in the exterior of the ring 13 or 15 gy wrapping wires 18, and sewed at their outer edges to the canvas 10 of the balloon as indicated at 19, near the ends of the adjacent set of spokes. ln the form shown, the partition 17 at 'theright' (Fig. 7) is laterally removed. from the ring- 6 by .extending the ring 15, forming 1n edect, a sleeve embracing the lattice-work shaft. rlhis prevents vleakage from one comparing ment to the other while permitting me tol provide short diagonal brace, wires 20 eX- tendingfrom the ring or sleeve member 15 to a ring 22 shown as formed of angle-iron, extending around the shaft and spaced therefrom by radial members 24..l The wires 20 preferably'hold the ring 22against lateral displacement to the left lby reason of the spokes tending to-fold in the oposite direction. The wires 20, which are s own as spaced apart (Fig. 8), may guide the spokes while they are being folded.

The spokes of the various sets which are shown as arranged in radial planes about the ring 6, are preferably braced by wires secured to the shaft adjacent the inner ends of one set of spokes and extending outL wardly and slidably engagin the outer ends of the'. spokes of the next a jacent set, and

then inwardily to the shaft. Such wires are indicated lat 25, Fig. 7, and are shown as secured to eye-bolts 26 secured in the rings 14 and 15.. The outer ends of the spokes are preferably rovided with hollow sleeves in which may e carried pulleys 28, over which the'wires A25may run', as the' spoke is folded towardor away from the shaft.

' The brace wires 25 for the spokes may extend through the partition members 17 and byl providing rubberdiaphragms 30 `clamped in 'openings in the canvas by rings 31 and intermediate bosses through which the wires may pass, leakage through the 10 are preferagly partition at these points is 'prevented by the close' engagement ^of the rubber with the wires.

lin order to compensate for the varying in ternal pressure of the gas, l prefer to provide internal air chambers into which air may be pumped or released as desired. Such air compartments may be formedby a longitudinal wall of canvas 35, sewed at each endto the cylindrical wall 10 and extending inwardly toward the shaft and then looped upwardly over'the same, as indicated at 36, each air compartment being between two adjacent sets of spokes and havin an end wall adjacent such spokes. lt will not/ed that by having the end walls of the sections of the air compartment divided and wrapped yabout the central shaft, that these air compartments will not interfere with the assembling of the canvason the balloon frame,

as the edges of the bag may be secured along one side while the end walls of the air compartments may be secured along their discribed, the inner longitudinal wall 35 may be looped around the shaft atl it's intermediate point, as shown, for example, at 37 in Fi 7 forming a tubular portion'embracing t e shaft, the end-s of which tubular .portion may be secured to the rings ladjacent the'sets of spokes. B v omitting this portion 37 looping around t e. shaft the top wall 3.5 of the air compartment may lie entirely under thefshaft, being secured to the outer wall ofthe canvas and the entire bag may be passed over the shaftlongitudinally, the spokes being reviously folded closely along the same. o prevent the spokes andrings 22 interfering with. passing the canvas longitudinally overthe shaft l provide a comparatively large opening in one end of the canvas, and at-the edge of this opening l secure an extension portion of canvas leading to the end of the shaft. This arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 9- infwhich the outer canvas 10 leads inwardiy toward thev end of the shaft butstops short thereof leaving a large openin from which a conicalshaped extenslon o canvas 43 may lead to the endof the shaft. The adjacent edges of the pieces 43 and main body of the canvas secured by rings 44 which may be clamp together on the outwardly turned portions of the edges. By releasing these two rings 44, access may be had to the interior of the balloon, or, if the partitions 17 have separable seams so that they may pass across the rings 22, the entire bag, in

cluding the partitions and the air compartment canvas, may be passed longitudinallyv ends of the spokes and the partitions released' from the rings 13 and 14.

The device for securing the spokes at their outer ends to the canvas preferably comprises a metal tubular member 40 embracing a portion of the outer ends of the spoke and secured thereto, and carrying a pin 41 on which the pulley 28 may turn.

On the inside of the canvas 10, opposite the end of the spoke is provided a Hat metal plate 42, having downwardly'turned ears 43 spaced apart, and adapted to stand On opposite sides of the outer portion of the tube 40. These ears are provided with openings adapted to receive the outwardly turned ends 45 of a pivot member comprising a heavy wire substantially U-shaped, and .having outwardly bowed portions 46 extending through openings in the side of the tube 40 whereby the portions 46 may be pressed together withdrawin the members 45 from the ears 43. The p? is secured to the canvas by screws extending through a corres onding plate 47 on the outer side thereof? It is desirable to brace the outer ends of the several spokes by longitudinally 4and spirally extending wires between the ends of spokes of adjacent sets, and this may be readily accomplished without interfering with the folding movement of the spokes by providing a plate 50 inside of each plate 42 and having downwardly extending ears 52 through which the pivot members 45 may extend. Such brace wires, as above mentioned are indicated at 53, shown as secured to the edges of the clevis 50. A transverse pin 55 may extend across the upper` end of the tube to 'prevent the Wires 25 becoming disengaged from the ends of the spokes.

.The spokes are intended to fold downwardly to the right in Fig. 7 which causes the wires 25 to become slack. I prefer to take up this slack by elastic bands 49 connected to the intermediate `portion of thel wire and to the rings 15 tending to draw the wire toward. the same as the spokes are folded.

It is desirable to'provide a net-work of wires about the exterior of the balloon to reinforce the same against internal pressure.

. These lwires preferably extend diagonally as indicated at in Fig; 1. n constructing this net-work of wires, prefer to make the same in a series of sections adapted to be wrapped around the exterior of the balloon and have portions extend y over buttons or knobs such as shown at 62 ate portion 42 The balloon 'is preferably of the shape shown in Fig. 1 in which there are a number of sets of spokes of the same diameter and adjacent the ends of the bag are sets of smaller spokes 8a providing the tapering of the bag toward each end. Accordingly, I arrange some of the rings to which the spokes are pivoted so that they may be slid along the shaft when the bag is folded, being drawn by the wires attaching the shorter spokes 8a to theends of the longer spokes. This is shown in Fig. 9, where the ring 6a is slidable on the inner ring member carrying the diaphragm 12 and to which are secured theJ rings 13 and 14 and the gas-tight sleeves and 37. V

To accomplish this folding it is also necessary to have one end of the balloon attached to the shaftby a slidable ring 67 which may fold with the folding of-the spokes and yet which will not allow leakage, by reason of the portion 43 of the canvas being secured by wire wrapping 66. Attached at one end to the slidable ring 67, is a collapsible sleeve of canvas or like `material 75, adapted to prevent gas escaping at the connection between the shaft and ring 67. `The ring 67 may slide with the folding of the spokes, `but the adjacent ring 6 to whichthe sleeve 75 is connected is closedby the diaphragm 12 and connected with the end of the ballon by the sleeve, and thus'this sliding is permitted while the leaking of gas is prevented when the balloon is being inflated. When the balloon is inflated the ring 67 is secured to the end memberl 72 by the bolts 68.

The form of car which I .prefer to use comprises a comparatively fiat bottomed boat-like member from each side of which rise lattice-work frame portions 82 secured tothe sides of the boat member 80, and secured at their upper ends by rigid extensions 84 connecting the frame members with the ends of adjacent spokes 8, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Extending'laterallyfrom the frame members 82 and rigidly carried thereb is a transverse lattice-work beam mem er 85 car ing at each end a rotatable propeller 86, Isvllown as driven by suitable flexible members 87, in turn driven by a suitable motor 88, mounted in the bottom of the boat-like car member 80. As shown, there are two of the boat-like members 80 connected by a lattice-work bridge, comprising two side members 89 and an intermediate narrow iioor 9() which' may be used for passengers to travel from one car 8O to the other. vThis intermediate bridge member between the cars is preferably detachable from the cars so that iwhen alighting -upon the surface of the water, each car may propel itself by its own motor 88 and propellers 86 indeendently of the other upon being releasedv om the gas bag.

isc

Each of these cars may be. provided with laterally projecting wings of the aeroplane type, as indicated at 92, extending from the lattice-work frame members 82 and braced by suitable wires 93. These laterally proj ecting wings may serve as supporting planes and used in conjunction with the propelling means. The car may be caused to rise and fiy after the manner ofan aeroplane, it being only necessary to provide stabilizing portions on these wings, and a suitable rudder carried in each car/and adapted for attachment in operative position. Upon injury to the gas bag while flying, one 0r 'both of the cars or car may be detached therefrom, fly on more rapidly and support itself by these wings thus changing at once from the dying as a dirigible to the flying as an aerop ane.

At 95 I have indicated a rudder supported by the rear end of the longitudinal truss beneath the gas bag and operated by flexible members 96 to guide the airship when flying as the dirigible. A similar rudder may be provided at the opposite end of the balloon, if desired.

It is sometimes desirable to rotate the 'gas bag with relation to the car and this I ma accomplish by passing around the balloon at several points trough-like members providing shives, indicated at 100 and secured to the ends of the spokes. Over each of these, I may pass a rope 102 which in turn extends through pulleys 103 carried by the frame work of the cars and by detaching the connecting members 84, and drawing these ropes which extend around the balloon at several points, the balloon may be rotated. This is particularly desirable when the car is secured to the ground to facilitate repairing the balloon at any point.

A' further advantage of these ropes connecting the car with the balloon are that they may be used to entirely support the car or cars and b simultaneously cuttin these ropes or wit drawing the pivots or the pulleys through which they pass, the aeroplane may be released from this supporting ag instantly allowing it to fly by itself while the bag, relieved of its weight, infimediatel rises free from the cars.

In ig. 11, I have shown a modified construction of the device for securing the canvas to the spokes. In this case a tube at the end of the spoke, indicated at 110 is pivoted at 112 to a tubular member which 1s slidably embraced by a pair of flanged washers 114 between which is clamped the canvas 10. Also, clamped between these washers is a rubber member 115 adapted to slide along the spoke and make a gas tight connection therewith, and at the outer end of the tube 111 is a threaded flange 116 receiving a cap 118 which also embraces threads von the flange 119 of the outer washer 114.

Thus by releasing the cap 118 to which the net-work of wires 60 is secured, the canvas may be slid inwardly along the spokes to \the inner end thereof. A pin 120, Figs. 7

and 8 may be removed to allow the removal of the spoke, whendesired.

The latter feature is equally useful in the infiation of the balloon as the rubber member 115 prevents leakage of gas between the canvas and spokes, and the washers 114 and canvas may `be pressed outwardly along the spokes as gas is forced into the bag until the canvas reaches the fiange 116 whereupon the clamping is e'ected by the Acap 118. A U-shaped wire 124 4having outwardly flar-V ing shoulders 125 and upt-urned ends 127 the balloon to which suitable ropes may be` secured for thus anchoring the balloon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In an airship, the combination of a gas bag, a frame for holding the gasbag distended, a plurality of boat-shaped cars arranged tandem detachably secured to said frame, a propeller and engine carried by each car and serving to propel the airshi as a dirigible or propel eachcar by itself w en detached.

2. In an airship, the combination of a gas bag, a frame for holding the gas bag distended, a plurality of boat-shaped cars detachably secured to said frame, propelling means carried by `each car and serving to propel the airship as a dirigible or propel the car by itself when detached, and a bridge extending between the cars and having its lends. detachably connected thereto. v v

l3. In an airship, the combination of a gas bag, a frame or holding the same distended, a car detachably secured toA said frame beneath the 'as bag and carrying a propelling means aaptedto drive the car and gas `bag as a ldirigible balloon, said propelling means comprising a motor and laterally positione necting'the prope 1ers and motor, and a transverse beam transversely carried by the car for carryin the propellers, and an aeroplane support or the car. v

4. In an airship, the combination'of a gas bag, a frame for holding the same 'distended comprising a longitudinal shaft 'made in sections, members extending outwardly from propellers, means conl minas? the shaft and secured to the canvas,'canvas partitions transversely mounted in the gas bag and extending from the bag to the shaft,

the

cured end to end, rings secured to the latticework and secured together, a bulk head between said rings, a transverse canvas partition secured to one of said rings leading outwardly and secured to the canvas, and a net-work of-wires on one side of said canvasv partition andl adapted to brace the same.

7. The combination of a gas bag, a lattice-work shaft extendin longitudinally therethrough, spokes for olding the gas bag distended pivoted at their inner ends to the shaft and secured at their outer ends to the gas bag, brace wires leading from one set of spokes toY the other and extending diagonally from oints adjacent the shaft on one set of spo es to points adjacent the canvas at the other and the spokes.

8. The combination of a as bag, a latticework shaft extending longitudinally therethrough, a series of rings carried by the shaft, sets of radiating sp kes pivoted to said rings and secured at t eir outer ends to the gas bag, pulleys mounted in said spokes adjacent their ends, and brace wires leading diagonally from points adjacent the gas bag to points adjacent the shaft and over sald pulleys thereby bracing vthe spokes while permitting them to fold along the shaft.

9. The combinationA of a gas bag, a lattice- Work shaft extending longitudinally therethrough, a series of rings carried by the shaft, spokes pivoted to said rings and extending radially to the gas ba the same distended and adapted to be folded along the shaft, concentric rings about the first mentioned rings pitioned at one side of the spokes when the bag is distended and adapted to brace the same, parallel brace wires leadin from said ring to the shaft at either side o said s okes whereby the spokes l are braced and gui ed.

10. lln an airshi the combination of a gas bag, a frame or holding the bag distended comprising a lattice-work shaft, sets of radiating spokes pivoted to the shaft and secured to the bag, brace wires leading diagonally from points adjacent one set of slidably engagingv for holding,

spokes to the ,outer ends of the next adjacent set, a Atransverse canvas partition through said bag secured at the lnner edge to the shaft andat its outer `edge to-v the bag, said brace wires extending through said partitions, and rubber washers about said brace wires and secured in -openings in said posi.- tion.

11. The combination'of a gas bag, a longitudinal lattice-work shaft extending therethrough, a series of members extending outwardly from the shaft 'to the bag for holding it distended, transverse partitions dividing said ba into compartments, two of said partitions` eing mounted adjacent each other and secured at their outer edges to the bag, rings about the shaft, the inner edges of the partitions secured to said rings, and a bulk head clamped between said rings and .extending transversely of the shaft.

12. In an airship, the combination of a gas bag, a longitudinal shaft extending therethrough comprising lattice-work sections, rings secured around the ends of said sections, means for clamping said rings together forming a rigid shaft extendin throughout the length of the bag, bul

heads clamped between the ends of said sections within said rings, members extending outwardly from the shaft to the canvas for -holding it distended, and a partition dividing the bag into compartments having its inner edge secured to one of said rings and its outer edge secured tothe bag.

13. "The combination of a'gas bag, a frame for holding the same distended comprising a longitudinal shaft, a plurality of sets of radiating spokes pivoted to the shaft and secured at their outer ends vto the gas bag, some of said spokes being of di'erent lengths, a bulk head positioned a short distance from one end of the shaft and extending through the shaft, a bulk head. at the end-of the shaft, a sleeve about the shaft extending between Said bulk heads, means for attaching the canvas at one end of the bag to the shaft comprising a ring adapted to slide along said shaft, said sleeve being connected to said ring whereby gas is prevented from leaking from the interior of the bag While thesame is being inflated, said slidable ring permitting the spokes to fold along the shaft in a direction away from l`the end to which said ringY is normally attached.

14.' In an airship, the combination of a gas bag, a frame for holding the bag dis-l tended' comprising a longitudinal shaft, a plurality' of sets of radiating spokes pivoted to the shaft and secured at their outer to which said ring may be clamped, a bulk tance from one end thereof, a collapsible sleeve connecting sai-d ring and` said bulk head, and means for detachably securing said ring to the member at the end of the shaft.

15. In an airship, the combination ofa gas baga frame for holding the bag distended comprising a shaft and a plurality of sets of radiating spokes pivoted to the shaft,

means for securing said spokes at their outer' ends to the canvas of the bag comprising a plate on the inner side of the canvas, inward projections on said plate adapted to embrace the end of the spoke, a spring member carried by the end of the spoke and having outwardly turned ends pivotally engaging said projections, ,I said spring member being adapted to be collapsed to release the pivoted engagement.

16. In an airship, the combination of a gas bag, a framefor holding the bag distended comprising a shaft and a plurality of sets of radiating spokes pivoted to the shaft, means for securing said spokes at their outer ends to the canvas of the bag comprising a plate on the'inner side of the canvas, inward projections on said plate adapted to embrace the end of the spoke, a spring member carried by the end of the spoke and having outwardly turned ends pivotall engaging said projections, said spring mem er .being adapted to be collapsed to release the pivoted enagement, a clevis within said projections aving its ends pivotally engaging the 'spring mem'ber, and lbrace wires secured to said clevls.

` 17. In an airship, the combination of a gas bag, a frame yfor holding the bag distended comprising a shaft and a plurality of sets of radiating spokes pivoted tothe shaft, means for securing said spokes at their outer ends to the canvas of the bag comprising a plate on the inner side of the canvas', inward projections on said plate adapted to emb-race the end of the spoke, a spring 'member carried by the end of the spoke and having outwardly turned ends pivotally engagmg said projections, said spring member bemg adapted to be collapsed to release the pivoted engagement, a clevis within said projections havingits ends pivotally engag- 'ing `the sprin member, and brace wires secured to said c evis, said spring member comprismg a U-shapedy wire having outwardly turned ends pivotally en aging the end of the spoke, rthe clevis and tie projections, the intermediate portions of the U projecting outwardly from the spoke providing means for drawing the ends of the spring together.

18. In an airship, the combination of a as bag, a f rame for holding the bag disten ed compr1s1ng a longitudinal shaft,` ayseries of radiating spokes pivoted at their inner ends to the shaft and means` for securing the spokes at their outer ends to the'canvas of the bag comprising a plate secured to the outer side of the canvaspa plate secured to the inner side of the canvas, means for clamping said plates together, the inner plate having inward projections embracing the inner end of the spoke, means for removably pivoting said projections to the end of the spoke, a net-work of wires extending around the outside of the canvas, and projections on the outer plate for securing said wires thereto.

19. In an airship, the combination of a gas bag, a frame for holding the bag distended comprising a longitudinal shaft, a se` ries of radiatin spokes pivoted at their inner ends to the s aft and means for securing the spokes at their outer ends to the canvas of the bag comprising a plate secured to the outer side of the canvas, a plate secured to the inner side of the canvas, means for clamping said plates together, the inner plate having inward projectionsembracing the inner end of the spoke, means for removably pivotingsaid projections to the end of the spoke, a net-work of wires extending around the outside of the canvas, and projections on the outer plate Jfor securing said wires thereto, washers extendin over said projections, and a pin exten ing therethrough for holding the washer in position outside the wires. j

20. In an airship, the combination of agas bag, a frame for holding the bag distended comprising a longitudinal shaft, a plurality of sets of radiating spokes spaced a art and secured at their inner ends to the s aft and at their outer ends to the canvas, air comhaving its longitudinal wall secured to the canvas of the gas bag and extending about the shaft, transverse walls for said air bag lying adjacent sets of outwardly extending members, said transverse walls also being arranged to permit the bag being folded over the balloon.

22. In anfairship, the combination, with a longitudinal shaft and a set ,of radiating spokes, of sectional bags located between the sets of spokes, and tubular connections between the bags, said connections being 10- their outer ends to the bag, some of said cated at one side of theshaft and extend- 'spokes being of different lengths and some 10 ing between the spokes of the set. Aof said rings being slidable along the shaft, 23. The combination of a gas bag, a frame said s lidable rings permitting the spokes to -5 for holding the bag distended comprising a fold along the shaft.

longitudinal shaft, a plurality of rings ln testimony whereof, I hereunto aix my about said shaft, spokes pivoted to said rings signature. v Y

and radiating therefrom and secured at OSCAR-J. LAISY. 

